The sheriff's office says there were three male adults on board the crashed airplane. They have been accounted for and their family members have been notified. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

A representative with the NTSB told KJCT News 8 the tail number for the plane that was reported to the agency. A check of that tail number through FAA records pulls up a 1962 Piper plane registered to a Clifton address. The NTSB cautioned at this point in the investigation, that tail number has not been verified as the aircraft involved in the flight.

The Federal Aviation Administration is heading to Mesa County from Salt Lake City to investigate.

---------------A plane crash on the Grand Mesa kills three overnight on Thursday.

The Mesa County Sheriff's Office search and rescue located the plane just after midnight.

Three people were on board the small plane when it crashed including a pilot and two passengers.

Their bodies were found with the plane.

The identities of those on board have not yet been released.

It took off from Mesa-Mack airport and authorities say the pilot told the airport manager they were checking for livestock on the mesa. But, their route and destination remain unknown.

The Civil Air Patrol launched an aircraft to find the plane.

The high altitude National Guard near Gypsum was also called in to assist.